Ecologia e Impatto Ambientale

IPAT Formula

• The IPAT formula is a method for evaluating environmental impact.
• The acronym stands for Impact-Population-Affluence-Technology.
• The formula was proposed in the early 1970s.

Geographic Territory

• A geographic territory is a complex social product, continually evolving from various stages of civilization.

Ecosystems

• Ecosystems are open systems, exchanging energy and matter.
• Biomes are large geographical areas with numerous ecosystems.

Ecosystem Services

• Net primary energy production is greatest in terrestrial ecosystems.
• Gross primary production is calculated in ecosystems.
• The production of atmospheric oxygen is a supporting function of ecosystems.

Biogeochemical Cycles

• The reservoir component of biogeochemical cycles is the abiotic environment.

Ecological Footprint

• The ecological footprint is a method of measuring resource consumption by populations.
• Countries like Italy have a high ecological footprint compared to their biocapacity.

Trophic Levels

• Fungi are heterotrophic organisms.

Water Cycle

• The water cycle is a gaseous and fast-moving process.

Agricultural Practices

• Biodynamic agriculture relies on crop rotation, composting, and a lunar calendar.

IPAT Equation

• The impact (I) is calculated using the formula I = PxAxT, where P is population, A is affluence, and T is technology.

Isolated Systems

• Isolated systems do not exchange energy or matter.

Habitat

• In Malcevschi's model, habitat is viewed as an objective concept.

Socioeconomic Metabolism

• Socioeconomic metabolism describes how societies interact with their environment.
• Human societies function as energy consumers in relation with natural resources.

Eutrophication

• Eutrophication is characterized by excessive algal growth in water bodies.
• It is a consequence of excessive nutrients (often from human activities).
• Environmental effects of Eutrophication are negative.

Decomposition

• Decomposers play a critical role in ecosystems by breaking down organic matter. This is part of the cycle of matter in ecosystems.
• Decomposition is the process by which organic matter is broken down by decomposers in an ecosystem.

Photosynthesis

• Photosynthesis is the process by which organisms convert solar energy into organic matter.

Territorialization

• Territorialization is a multi-dimensional process involving structural, reification, and naming.
• Malcevschi's model incorporates concepts of nature, landscape, and lived spaces as subjective representations of reality.
• Malcevschi's model focuses on the subjective nature of how humans perceive and interact with their environments.

Ecosystem Processes

• Ecosystems are characterized by their capacity for recovery or resilience.
• The concept of entropy is tied to the concept of ecosystem stability and organization.
• Dissipative structures are open systems with the tendency to generate ordered structures (complex systems) from disorder.

Ecological Impacts

• Environmental concerns must be addressed through multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary or transdisciplinary approaches.

IPAT Variables

• The IPAT model uses variables to measure human impact, population, affluence and technology to analyze the consequences of human action.

Biome Characteristics

• The productivity of biomes varies widely depending on their geographic location. For a given area, soil and climate are important determinants impacting the productivity of a biome.
• Biomes can be categorized based on shared characteristics, such as climate and vegetation.

Cycling of Matter in Ecosystems

• Biogeochemical cycles such as the water cycle and nitrogen cycle are essential for maintaining life-supporting conditions in an ecosystem.

Water Use

• The water footprint is a measure of water use associated with the production of a certain good or service.